Coffin



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WVILLIAM J. LEONHARDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COFFIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,297, dated March28, 1893. Application filed November 7, 1892. Serial No. 451,233. (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. LEONHARDT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook'and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coffins,of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to secure the name-plate to thecofiin in such a manner that the inscription can be seen and read moreeasily than when the plate is secured flat against the top of the lid,in the customary manner.

To this end, the invention consists in securing the name-plate to amovable support that may be placed in a partially upright or inclinedposition, when it is desired to view the name-plate, and that may atother times be placed fiat against the top of the coffin.

In the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof-Figure 1, isa perspective view of a coffin with the name-plate attached inaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2, is an elevation of the name-platesupport viewed from the head of the coffin. Fig. 3, is a verticallongitudinal section of the name-plate, its support, and a-portion ofthe coffin lid.

In all of the figures, the support is shown by full lines in itsinclined position, and in Fig. 3 its position, when folded against thelid of the coffin, is indicated by dotted lines. In Figs. 2 and 3, thescale is larger than in Fig. 1.

A represents the lid of the coffin, B represents the name-plate, and O apanel, to which the name-plate is secured, one edge of said panel beingconnected to the lid of the coffin by a hinge of any suitable form. Inthe drawings, this hinge consists of two pieces of spring wire, eachhaving near its mid-length a coil D and each having one of its ends, (D)secured to the top of the coffin lid and the other (D") secured to theunder side of the panel. Preferably, the panel and lid are grooved forthe reception of these wires, in order thatthe .one may rest solidlyupon the other, and both are covered with a fabric in order to give afinished appearance. These springs constitute not only the means forconnecting the panel to the lid, but also the means for holding thepanelin inclined position. When desired, the panel may be placed flatagainst the top of the lid, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, inwhich position it is held by a suitable catch E, provided with a cordand tassel F, for convenience in tripping it.

G is a piece of fabric, secured at its edges to the top of the coffinlid and the under side of the panel, respectively. It serves the twofoldpurpose of limiting the upward movement of the panel and giving thedevice a finished appearance, and may or may not bear an inscription,such as shown in Fig. 2. If this strip of fabric be omitted, the upwardmovement of the panel will be limited by the edge a of the panel comingin contact with the coffin lid, or any other suitable form of stop maybe used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a coffin and a name plate, of a movable supportto which the name-plate is secured, said support being in turn securedto the lid, and means for holding said support either in an inclinedposition or flat against the lid of the coffin, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination with a coffin and a nameplate therefor, of a movablesupport to which said name-plate is secured, a hinge connecting one edgeof the support to the coffin lid and means for holding said support ininclined position or permitting it to be folded down against the lid ofthe coffin, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a coffin and a nameplate, of a support to whichsaid plate is secured, a hinge connecting one edge of the support to thelid of the coffin, a spring for holding said support in inclinedposition, and a catch for holding it against the lid of the coffin,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a coffin and the name-plate therefor, of amovable panel to which said name-plate is secured, a hinge connectingone edge of panel to the lid of coffin, and means for holding said panelin inclined position or permitting it to be folded down fiat against thelid of the coffin, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the coffin and a holding the panel against thelid of the coffin, name-plate, 0f the panel C to which said platesubstantially as set forth.

is secured the sprin s havin coils D and A arms D and D" secn i ed t0thglid of the cof- WILLIAM LEONHARDT' 5 fin and panel, respectively, thestrip of fabric WVitnesses:

G secured at its edges to the lid of the coflin J. HALPENNY, and panel,respectively, and the catch E for L. M. HOPKINS.

